Lacey Turner's leaving pact

Lacey Turner told BBC bosses she was quitting 'EastEnders' just 24 hours after her on-screen husband Charlie Clements did because the pals had a pact to leave the soap at the same time

Lacey Turner had a secret pact to leave 'EastEnders'.

The actress - who bowed out of the BBC One soap on Christmas Day (25.12.10) - revealed she and on-screen husband Charlie Clements (Bradley Branning) agreed to leave the show at the same time, so when he told TV bosses of his plans to leave she followed suit just 24 hours later.

She said: "Charlie and I always said we'd go at the same time. For quite a while I kept saying I was going to go and kept realising I wasn't ready. But when Charlie said he was going to go last year I was like, 'Right, OK , I'm going too'. I suddenly felt brave.

"I went to see the producers the next day and was really determined to stick to my decision."

However, the 23-year-old brunette admitted she found making the decision to leave her role as Stacey Branning very difficult.

Lacey explained: "The producers tried to persuade me to stay but they didn't manage it. I gave them a year's notice so they had time to plan. Sometimes I forget I'm leaving then I suddenly remember and start crying."